DEBBIE NORRELL
There is only one page in your 2015 calendar left after November. The Halloween merchandise is marked down and, if you are like me, you have taken all the left over candy to work so you won’t eat it all.
This year, the street seemed to be empty on Halloween night. Where did the children go for treats? I saw their pictures on Facebook in the most unusual costumes. I saw little ones dressed up as Ben Carson wearing stethoscopes and business suits; mini versions of Kat Williams with hair parted down the middle and skinny mustaches; and then there was a miniature Janelle Monae in a black and white outfit with spectator shoes. From what I saw on social media, kids wanted to look like the popular people in the entertainment news. Where were the superheroes and cartoon characters?
My great nephew looked like he was a policeman for Halloween. In the city where he lives they do something called treats and trunks. I think I have this right. The parents bring their cars to the parking lot at the school and they open the trunks of their cars and hand out treats from the trunk of the car. Some of the trunks and cars are decorated for Halloween. My great nephew is 5 years old and doesn’t know that he is missing a good old fashioned trick or treat. But hopefully this is a safer Halloween option for the children.
What I found more challenging this year was buying good candy. I still wanted to be prepared in case kids did come by and I didn’t want to get caught in a crowd. So I ducked into the local Big Lots, all of the good candy had been picked over. I ended up with a fun size bag of Peanut M’M’s and some crispy chocolate candy.
The doorbell didn’t ring once. So now I have candy for my co-workers. I usually like to buy candy that I like to eat and that I’m proud to give out. It makes me happy when the kids are happy. There is nothing worse than an unhappy trick or treater. As far as leftover candy, I have been known to have a piece or two or three. This year I have not opened one piece. I remember the days when we would run out of candy.
Halloween is over and now the concentration is on Christmas. The Christmas decorations have been up for over a month is some stores. Halloween is being quickly dismissed at 50 percent off and higher. I don’t need any Christmas decorations, as a matter of fact, I am packing up a box of things I have not used and donating them to the Goodwill. My Christmas decorations will go up after Thanksgiving and may not come down until Valentine’s Day. That makes me laugh every time I think about it.
This year I’m doing a story on your Christmas wish list. I would like to know your fantasy gift wish. Send me an email and remember keep it clean people.
(Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com)
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